Your personal stylist: Don't let the winter wet dictate style sense

View full size Northwest style doesn't have to be puffy, baggy and chunky(left). With a little effort, you can stay warm and dry and still wear shaped, colorful and flattering clothes (right). Sara Dahlquist

In my 10 years as a personal stylist, the excuses I hear for poor personal style never fail to amaze me.

Excuses like: "I just need to lose 10/20/30 pounds," or "I'm over 50, is it really worth it anymore?" or "I'm a mother, who has time?" or "I have no money."

Everything I hear I sympathize with because, yes, our bodies -- and our lifestyles -- are in a constant state of change. What you shouldn't do is just give up. Unless you truly don't care how you look.

But for those who do, here are some tips on what to wear -- and what not to wear -- in our lovely Northwest climate.

Ah, the Northwest: the evergreens, snow-capped mountains, our quaint beaches and, of course, the cold and rain that stick around for what seems like most of the year. Certainly, there are physiological needs that must be met with our fashions.

When I point out items that don't fit or flatter a client's figure, the excuse inevitably is "but it's cold and wet out and that kept me warm and dry."

And while the clothes have done just that, it also made them look like they just walked off an Alaskan fishing boat. Ahoy, matey!

Remember, you are what you wear. If you choose to wear puffy vests, baggy jeans, boxy parkas and wide, chunky shoes, then you're going to look puffy, baggy, wide and chunky.

If that's not really the impression that you want to make, take a look at what you're wearing and make better, more flattering choices. And keep in mind that the key to staying warm is to choose pieces that are functional, but also are stylish and flattering. And they do exist.

At Shop Adorn I found a striking red Three Stones Astoria jacket. In a world of gray skies and black pea coats, a little color can really brighten your perspective. In addition, the jacket had a beautiful shape and detail, making it stylish as well as flattering for any body type.

Then, instead of a baggy, faded pair of jeans, I found some dark Paige Skyline Skinny denim. And despite the name skinny jeans, whatever your age, shape or size, a skinny jean CAN be appropriate, comfortable and flattering. What you want for comfort is a mid or high-rise and 2 percent or more spandex for stretch. The dark, uniform color will be slimming and the spandex will suck everything in and lift it up where it should be. The Skyline is a midrise, which eliminates the "muffin top" effect. Make an investment in your jeans, because in our climate you'll be wearing them 80 percent of the time.

With a warm jacket and a pair of comfortable denim in hand that are (note the descriptive words) colorful, interesting, shaped and skinny, I headed over to Amenity shoes to look for stylish but functional boots. Yes, functional!

The boots in the photograph are Bos & Co. brand, which will keep your feet warm and, because they are waterproof, dry. Because style hasn't been ignored, the slim line and sassy ankle buckle make for a versatile and interesting boot. If you're looking to elongate your lower half, the low contrast between the dark denim and the dark boot is the way to go, leaving the visual line uninterrupted.

Last but never least, I grabbed "the bow." Just as a bow can add so much visual appeal to a wrapped present, accessories can pull together and make your outfit an ensemble. I grabbed the neutral, but not black, hat from Amenity that can be worn with anything as well as hide your unwashed, unstyled bed head. I added my own Pendleton print umbrella. I don't understand why we walk our wet, gray streets with a black umbrella when there are colorful choices out there.

So there you have it. Wear what you want to look like. If puffy, baggy and chunky isn't exactly the direction you're looking for, choose shaped, colorful, flattering and interesting.

I want to see what you've been wearing, so send me a photograph of your stylish and flattering Northwest outfits. Then check for my next column -- in two weeks -- when I'll expand on the concept of "the bow."

-- Sara Dahlquist is a local personal stylist. Read more tips and advice on her blog www.dahlstyle.com